The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-12-16
THE A v
Synopsis Q, the Report of Secretary Whit

ney.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-The secre-
tary OF the navy, in his annual report,
says that during the past year many of
the difficulties standing in tbs way of
the creation of q creditable new navy
have beer removed, and ii it is the will
OF the country that we should be pos
sessed OF q navy able TO maintain, when
required, the honor and dignity Of the
government, it can now be readily
created. The difficulties where the
lack of manufactures of steel forgings
for heavy guns; of armor for ironclad
vessels, and rapid firing guns. All
these manufactures are now in pro
cess Of construction, under contracts
with the department. The plant
at Bethlehem, Pa. for the pro-
ductlon OF arnior and gun steel, is to
be second to nonein the world. The
i~iotchkiss Gun company has established
a mandatory here and mas found that
1t can manufacture secondary batter
les for ships cheaper here than at home.
All the un0rmored vessels authorized
by congress are completed or in course
OF construction. OF The two armored
vessels, one Is now being built in
England. The completion of the double
turreted monitors will be DELAYED until
the Bethlehem plant can furnish the
armor.
On the coast and harbor defense. for
which congress appropriated 81, ooo :.
600, little has been done. The depart
ment is not disposed to go into con
struction CT unprotected torpedo boats
beyond the two for which bids have
been received, but the Weapon of the
torpedo boat is the most destructive
known, and the department hopes TO
find some effective way to use it. The
submarine torpedo boat is believed to
be the coming solution Of
the problem. The premature
dynamite gun is receiving attention,
and further tests are to be made soon.
The secretary does not believe in re-
pairing the sin2lc-turreted monitors for
coast defense. They are entirely obso-
lete, and it could be little less thar
murder to send men in them to cou
ter the recently built ironclads. The
suggestion OF the repair of these YES
sells, he appreciates, is only as 3 tenn
porary eNpedlent, but this is a theory
upon which $50, coo, 000 or $75, 0O0, 900
have been spent since the war. 1t is
time to stop it. and be content only
with the best, The report on the ca
rcer of the Tennessee, which was sold
this year, shows that she has cost the
government, from the time of construc-
ten, $500, 900 and did about ten years
actual service outside of the repair
shops and navy yards.
On the naval reserve the report SAYS
the department has informed itself
fully OF the different systems of organi.
cations for naval reserve and coast de.
Tense in foreign countries, and is pre-.
pared to formulate a general plan fol
Il similar organization to meet the re.
9ulIeuichls ana cDnGltlOnS OF cur OWL
Institutions. 1t contempiates the EN-.
ployment of a rapid mobilization OF
steamers enrolled On the auxiliary list,
and is calculated to produce the hes,
results on a comparatively small.
national expenditure.
The rest OF the report is devoted is
a detailed description of the condition
and situation of the vessels belonging
to The navy; to receipts and expendl
lures Of the department Tbalance o.
$l6i,592 on hand DecemberJ; to est.
mates and appropriations for the next
year Tover 81, 600, 900 less than for eur.
rent year,; to development in naval
vessels throughout the world and yari.
Gus bureau reports.